About 1000 DMDK cadre join DMK in CM's presence

Tiruchirapalli, Oct 7 (UNI) As many as 1,000 members of the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) tonight joined the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in the presence of party president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi here.

Welcoming the new entrants, led by State Organising Secretary K Thangamani, Mr Karunanidhi said, ''You (cadre) have come from a party to the DMK, founded by Aringar Anna. If I tell the name of the party, I have to face the wrath of the leader of that party. But, it is my duty to tell the name of the party.'' ''I welcome you, all those who worked sincerely in that actor's party,'' he said referring to DMDK founder and actor Vijayakanth.

Earlier, Mr Karunanidhi arrived here by road from Madurai as part of his whirlwind campaign for the upcoming local body polls.

Union Minister of Environment and Forest A Raja and State Ministers K N Nehru and N Selvaraj accompanied him among others.

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